Genia wants to join Rays

ONE of the world's most highly rated halfbacks, Will Genia, is set to sign with the Sunshine Coast Stingrays.

The Australia and Queensland star has signed a letter of intent and his inclusion in the Premier Grade club is expected to be officially announced during the week.

"Every Super 15 and Wallabies player needs to be registered with a premier club and Will has decided he'd like to be with the Stingrays," chairman Tony Riddle said.

"It is exciting to have him on our books and the best thing is he actually approached us.

"Will thinks highly of the Sunshine Coast - he likes the region."

Genia, who was previously with Brisbane Norths, has 27 international caps to his name and helped steer the Queensland Reds to the Super Rugby premiership last year.

Stingrays management conceded it was doubtful the 24-year-old would don a Stingrays jersey any time soon but didn't completely rule out the prospect of him playing for the side at some stage.

"It's probably unlikely," Riddle said. "But he will do everything he can do to help rebuild the Stingrays and if he is able to play and he can, then he will - but whether there's any games for him this year it's too difficult to say."

"He's got 14 games of Super 15 and he's got Wallabies Test matches. The Super 15 season is followed by the (Rugby Championship) series which includes a trip to Argentina so I don't think he's going to be playing for us in 2012."

The Super Rugby season has a month-long break in June but Genia is likely to be with the Australian camp for a Test against Scotland and three Tests against Wales on home soil.

There is a slim possibility he could play for the Rays at the end of the Super Rugby competition, when there is a month's break before the Australian team starts its Rugby Championship campaign.

Stingrays coach John Rangihuna said, "it'd be good if he can play for us" but added that it was simply "great" just to have him at the club.

"If he does get back to play with us it would be awesome but even if he is down at training with us that would be great - to have a man with his experience.

"It would be a real buzz for the boys. I've got two young halfbacks who idolise him and they're obviously on cloud nine.

"I'm sure with his experience, what he could offer them would be huge, but we will have to wait and see what happens."